Snips and Snails...and Who Knew?

 I haven't posted a "snips and snails" blog in awhile but yesterday seemed to be the perfect day to do so. I knew I would be heading to daughter #3's house later in the afternoon to see my grand daughter and a friend get ready for their prom. But, there was much of a beautiful day before then so I headed out to snap some pictures and make a list of things to start that day and keep me busy for a few more.

Of course, as soon as I came back in I received a message inviting me to come over much earlier to watch my grandson's lacrosse game on the big screen. Of course, that was an offer I couldn't refuse so, change of plans and off I went.

And so, that leaves me with the list today and, as much as I would love to get started, today is really gloomy and rainy...and Sunday. So, the perfect cozy in and watch movies kind of day. But, before I do that I thought I would share my snips and snails so you can see what I have been up to and what is yet to come.

Friday night saw us at a home girls' lacrosse game against a team we had lost to pretty handily at their home field earlier in the season. Again, this is a brand new team-most of the girls had NEVER played lacrosse in their lives-so we knew a building season was to be expected. Imagine our surprise when we scored first and stayed ahead most of the game until they tied it up at the last minute forcing us into overtime and they scored first so that was it. But, those girls were anything but disappointed because they have improved so much and were so proud of how they played. Of course, the night went much later than usual and then they had a post-game meeting that seemed to go on and on so, the only photo I have is one of the scoreboard-don't pay attention to the score. That must have been the score keeper's attempt at some humor before the game began. Lol

All of yesterday was spent watching Har's game in Connecticut-which they won-and then watching the girls as they did all of the girl things my three used to do as they got ready for a big night. Of course, this one was a bit different because it was really just a bunch of girl friends meeting up with some mutual boy friends so they could experience prom. My grandson would be missing this one because he and his dad were in Jacksonville for a lacrosse game but he will have another chance soon as his girlfriend goes to another high school so they will attend hers.

I made a trip to a favorite local store because daughter #3 has a birthday next week and I wanted to be ready ahead of the game just in case my life went in other directions then as well. They were having their Spring Open House so I grabbed a few little goodies for myself as well.

I actually didn't have an Easter flag and just used my spring one so, since there was a 25% discount on one item I decided to see what they had, I love this little bunny. I actually was looking for a design that I could easily repaint because we know how many of my flags I have already had to do that to but, this one is made from recycled liter bottles so maybe the color will last against the Florida sun just a bit longer.

And I love my "Ocala" towels. I have them for a lot of holidays but somehow never had one for Easter...I do now.

And, I'm a sucker for a pretty candle ring and this one will carry right through spring.

And, look at the little cutie I found at Publix the other day.

And then for my "who knew" moment. I was out cutting some flowers for my purple Mason jars and didn't have enough Gerber daisies so I went looking for something else to fill the jar. I saw that one-and only one even though I have many-of my today, tomorrow and yesterday bushes was in full bloom so I cut some of it.

And once I got the branches inside to cut for the jars I got a whiff of them! I truly never knew they had a fragrance-kind of like a lily. The funny thing is that I was sitting out on the pool deck the other day taking a break from weeding when I got the scent of something floral. I looked around my yard and couldn't see what it might be coming from so I figured it must be from a neighbor's yard. Too funny that I was actually only a few feet from this bush but never gave it a thought. 

The pretty tri-colored flowers look so pretty in those jars with the few Gerbers I had.

As I get up every morning I can't help but see the console that is now in my bedroom. I'm still on the fence as to whether it will stay there or not but it is fun to decorate a bit.

And, it's where I put this.

The other one is in the family room. I am just getting prepared for what they are already saying might be a very active hurricane season. These cordless, chargeable lights will come in handy when power goes out-heck, around here power goes out during the slightest storm so I am expecting they will get a lot of use.

Then, I thought I should get some crafts lined up. I found a pretty image I want to get on to canvas for spring and then I saw an Easter craft all over the blogs and Pinterest and thought I would love to give it a try. The crafters used shims and broke them on the end of a counter for a "ragged" edge. So, that was my thought until I took a good look at another project that has been keeping me busy-trying to get the fallen lattice off of the newly erect fence so it doesn't fall again. I can only do so much a day because it is a hard job but my mind went to "ragged" and then to this:

Heck, I've got enough "raggedy" wood out there to make thousands of those crafts so a trip to Lowes to purchase wood shims is now off my list.

And, the basil is needing a trim so I see some pesto in the making this week as well.

And it looks like I will be able to host an Easter brunch at my house so I have started to pull out some recipes. The only one that I know as a must have are these delicious sugar cookies. I am anything but a baker but these seem to turn out every time in spite of me. Lol

So now you know where you can find me for the next few days. I'll let you know how it all goes. I think we have four or five lacrosse games this week as well and a hair appointment so it will be busy but fun. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Moving Right Along

 Before I get myself into any more complicated projects, why don't we head into the dining room?

Love my little bunny that grand daughter #5 drew me a few years ago.

These bunnies moved here from the kitchen hutch. I like the way that they connect with the different lavenders.

I moved the bunny that I did last year to the console. I'm still not sure this is his perfect home but we shall see.

This was supposed to feel like old peeling floral wallpaper on a chippy old plaster wall. I love this piece...the older and chippier the better for me. Lol I'm actually kind of surprised that I have never done a faux finish like this on a wall in my house before. The color of my bedroom kind of lends itself to this. Hmmmmm

That is the dining room for this year but, before I go I want to show you the update on the cabinet. It is safely back in its home in one of the guest rooms and even though it isn't the faux finish I had thought about, it definitely looks better with the other pieces in that room.

If you're new here you might not remember the BEAUTIFUL bedding that I had in that room. I loved it! It matched the curtains and pillows and was quite expensive but, it also weighed SO MUCH. It was almost impossible for me to lift it and make that bed without injuring myself so, daughter #3 went to her warehouse (she is a designer and has a huge stash of stuff) and brought me the white spread and the gray velvet throw, I really didn't think those colors went with what was left in the room and I was going to paint the walls but then I would need new curtains and then a new painting and then...well, you get the picture so, somehow she convinced me that everyone is going back to stronger, deep colors these days and I fell for it. Lol

And so, the room had a lot going on-so many different colors and wood tones. It kind of drove me crazy so I decided to begin by changing the jelly cupboard-which really has no business in a bedroom except that it holds way too much to get rid of it-back to a wood tone.

This is what it looked like with the walnut pine armoire, light wood chair and black painted cupboard-as well as a white spread and gray throw. Way too much fighting each other in my mind!

This is actually what the cupboard looked like before I changed out the fabric behind the wire in the doors. This print looked beautiful with the Mediterranean feel of the other bedding but not with the new so I went to a white-ish duck cloth. I almost gave it a quick coffee stain but since the spread is pretty white I let it go.

And here is where we are now. My daughter says no one does "matchy-matchy" any more but I like it better. Now that winter is over I'm also thinking it might be time to get rid of that gray. The throw is pretty but I think maybe that color is still throwing me a bit.

I truly don't think I mind the color of the walls and the other chest as much anymore-or the drapes that really don't belong but again, if I change them I will probably start a domino effect and it will all come tumbling down! Lol

So that is where I am for now and I'm heading out to get some yard work done before we hit 80 degrees today-spring made a quick visit to us-sure hope she finds her way back just for a bit. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Quick Pop In

 I love my life. I actually love how I'm never really sure how a day will play out unless it is a special occasion and I need to be somewhere special for someone special. Otherwise, I pretty much wake up and decide how I feel and what I might feel like doing that day. Now, make no mistake about it, I make lists of ALL of the things needing doing but I am pretty flexible as to when it may get done-case in point, painting the sunroom ceiling. I have had the paint for two years and I still haven't cracked open that can! Some day I will surprise myself-and everyone else. Lol

So, today I knew I needed to talk with my pool guy. I need a new filter for my pool. The one just chugging along is the original from over 40 years ago. It had been rebuilt or repaired along the way but that is still record breaking and I'm not complaining. But, pool filters of the kind I need are expensive...and getting more expensive every day...so I decided it was time to bite the bullet now that the main part of the fence was done.

Of course, that meant that I didn't want to get into too large a project or be up to my ears in mud when he got here so I just kind of scoped out the house and came upon that cupboard that had gotten moved into a guest room and looked horrible in black so I sanded it down-and that is as far as it got.

And so, today was the day. In preparation for that I had picked up some new stain the last time I was in Lowes. I was leaning towards more of a gray brown because I was going to try a faux finish but, honestly, since I had no idea how it would turn out and then if I would have to do the same to the big armoire in that room also, I decided I just didn't have it in me and I picked up a can of "MinWax Provincial". It actually leaned a bit towards the grays on the sample of pine wood in the store. Of course, I should have factored in that not only had this piece already been stained by the manufacturer but it had also been painted by me. I did as good a job as I could sanding it but there were some areas of paint left behind.

I thought about sanding again but, that wasn't in the cards for today so I just opened that can of stain and got going.

I moved the cupboard out to the living room where it was on wood floors as opposed to the off white carpet in the bedroom. The lighting wasn't great and neither were my eyes but I got started. This is what is was looking like with some of the black paint still there.

Much to my surprise, the provincial stain is almost a perfect match to what was on this cupboard when we bought it. I didn't sand the top because I had not painted the top and it all matches seamlessly!

It's definitely not what I had initially thought of doing and I might someday come back and hit it and the armoire with a dry brush of some kind but, for now, it looks so much better not being black in a room that already had so many other finishes!

I would love to move it back and get it all set up for its final photo but I'm afraid there might still be some damp stain on the legs and feet of that thing and the last thing I need to do is drag that across that carpet.

Tomorrow I am heading out to see if I can rip the rest of the lattice off of the fence. I'm pretty sure I can do that and then all I will need is to have the 8' posts cut back down to 6'...and I know I can't do that. Lol

I will show you this beauty in all of her glory when that stain is good and dry. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

  

I'm Back

 I honestly didn't think I would be back so quickly but it is ONE of those days. You know. The kind of day where you have SO many things you could be doing but you don't really feel like doing any of them. Back in the day, I wouldn't have much choice because tomorrow would have other things that needed doing but at the stage of my life right now, I pretty much let myself do what I want when I want unless there is a real pressing need to do otherwise. And so, those things I don't want to do will just go down a notch on the list and I am giving myself today to do as I want.

And, right now, I want to take you into the kitchen dressed for Easter this year. Lol

I didn't change up too much in the kitchen this year but I did end with way more Easter cutting boards than I thought. I grabbed two new ones this year forgetting that I had bought a few others last year and was gifted another as well. Oh well, I've always been a sucker for wooden items in the kitchen so I'm just going with it and we will definitely use them throughout the season as I love to serve things on a board. The only problem right now is that I am running out of counter space to display them. Lol

I still love my little birthday surprise daffodil painting gifted me by an artist friend a few years ago. Daffodils are one of my favorite spring flowers and I am sad that we can't grow them here. My friend painted these for me because she said that the reason I am so drawn to them is that they are my "birth month" flower. I also like that cardboard and spackle bunny that I made last year. I am usually not a fan of cardboard crafts but he needs the texture of the corrugation with the spackle overlay to make him work so well.

More of the pink tulips added to the originally green and purple arrangement.

I made this cross last year and it is one of my favorite crafts of all time. The backing is made from large paint stir sticks cut and then glued together then painted and wrapped with twine. The cross is unfinished wood from Walmart that I painted and then embellished with some pretty flowers. Last year it sat in the living room but I didn't think it was in the proper place so I brought it into the kitchen this year and I think between my Palm Sunday cross and a cross that a favorite pastor made for us stuck in the pansies, it kind of looks like the three crosses on Mount Calvary.

And look, there's another bunny board-this time for cheese...and I will use that as well.

So that is the kitchen for now. It is hard to believe that there is still a month until Easter. The time between Easter and St. Pat's is throwing me off because last year they were practically on top of each other. I must admit that I have started looking ahead to my spring decor and I think changes may be in order there as well this year. Right now I'm baffled as to what I might put in the shelf in the living room but I will figure it out and probably take you along on the ride.

Until next time-stay safe and stay tuned.